Robots, Redheads, and Rip-offs? Tencent Says Sony's Horizon Lawsuit is 'Startlingly' Original... About Its Own Hypocrisy!
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Tencent has hit back at Sony's 'slavish clone' lawsuit over its upcoming game *Light of Motiram*, calling Sony's claims of *Horizon's* originality 'startling' and accusing them of trying to monopolise common genre tropes. They even threw in a cheeky jab citing Sony's own developers and legal technicalities about suing the wrong entity.
Right, mates, gather 'round, because I've been tinkering with the latest industry kerfuffle, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than a rogue spell cast at a wizarding academy. You know that feeling when a giant studio tries to cordon off a whole corner of the gaming world and slap a 'Proprietary IP – Keep Out!' sign on it? Well, Sony's having a go, and Tencent's response is, shall we say, *sparkling* with irreverence.
Back in July, our pals at Sony dropped a legal bombshell on Tencent, claiming their upcoming action-adventure game, *Light of Motiram*, was a 'slavish clone' of their beloved *Horizon* series. We're talking red-headed heroine, post-apocalyptic world, robotic enemies – the whole nine yards. Sony essentially pointed to *Light of Motiram* and said, 'That's our recipe, you cheeky beggars!'
But now, Tencent has filed its response, and it's less a defence and more a cheeky counter-attack. They're basically arguing that Sony is trying to create an 'impermissible monopoly on genre conventions.' Essentially, they reckon Sony’s trying to sue over the very building blocks of countless games – like someone trying to copyright the concept of 'magic' in a fantasy setting. It's like trying to claim ownership of the *idea* of a hero's journey, rather than a specific story. You can’t just cast a proprietary spell on 'post-apocalyptic robot hunting,' can you?
What’s truly *startling*, as Tencent eloquently puts it, are Sony's claims of *Horizon's* originality. Now, don't get me wrong, I love *Horizon*. Aloy is a fantastic character, and hunting those mechanised beasts is a blast. But Tencent pulled out the digital equivalent of a smoking gun – a behind-the-scenes documentary where Guerrilla Games' own art director, Jan-Bart Van Beek, admitted their central premise had been explored before. Specifically, in the 2013 gem *Enslaved: Odyssey to the West*.
Think about that for a second. Sony's legal team is out there saying *Horizon Zero Dawn* was 'like no fictional world created before [or] since,' and Tencent just casually drops a quote from Sony's own developers that says, 'Actually, no, it wasn’t.' It's the kind of self-own that makes you wonder if the legal department and the development studio ever have a chat over coffee. This isn't just a gentle poke; it's a full-on digital roundhouse kick to the corporate ego, pointing out that what Sony seeks to monopolise are 'ubiquitous genre ingredients.' They even threw in a list of other games that share these 'time-honoured tropes': *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*, *Far Cry: Primal*, *Far Cry: New Dawn*, *Outer Wilds*, *Biomutant*, and many more. It's a fair dinkum roll call of gaming history, reminding us that creative inspiration is a tapestry, not a fenced-off garden.
Now, here’s where it gets even more intriguing, because Tencent didn't just stop at challenging the narrative. They also brought up a little meeting from GDC March 2024, where Tencent reps apparently pitched a licensed *Horizon* mobile game to Sony. Sony said no. Tencent's response? They clarified that no execs or employees from the *sued* companies were at that meeting, so it can't be construed as copyright or trademark infringement. It’s a bit of a strategic sidestep, suggesting, 'You had your chance to work with us, and you passed. Now you’re crying foul when someone else brews a similar tea?'
And then there’s the classic legal wizard’s misfire: Tencent claims Sony is suing the wrong company entirely. Apparently, *Light of Motiram* is being developed and published by Polaris Quest/Aurora Studios (operating under Tencent Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd) and Proxima Beta PTE Ltd (doing business as 'Tencent Games' and/or 'Level Infinite') – not the Tencent America, Proxima Beta U.S., and Tencent Holdings named in the lawsuit. It's like trying to arrest the landlord for something the tenant’s cat did. Tencent Holdings, they argue, is just a parent company with no direct involvement in *Light of Motiram*. They're essentially saying, 'You’ve aimed your spell at the wrong target, mate; this one’s going to fizzle out.'
Finally, the kicker: *Light of Motiram* isn't even slated for release until late 2027. Sony’s lawsuit, Tencent argues, is based on what the game *might* look like, rather than a finished product. Which, you know, makes a certain kind of sense. How do you claim infringement on something that doesn't fully exist yet? Though, it’s worth noting, shortly after Sony’s lawsuit dropped, *Light of Motiram’s* Steam page did get a quiet makeover, with key art altered and descriptions rewritten. A bit of digital tidying up, perhaps? Like trying to sweep a magic dust explosion under the rug before anyone notices.
So, what does this all mean for us, the curious gamers? It’s a fascinating, if a little messy, glimpse into the cutthroat world of IP protection. On one hand, you’ve got to protect your creative works. On the other, the idea of monopolising broad genre conventions could stifle innovation and lead to a rather dull landscape where every new idea is legally scrutinised into oblivion. Are we heading towards a future where 'open-world RPG with crafting' needs a licensing agreement? Probably not, but these legal skirmishes do make you wonder. It's a chaotic dance between protecting unique visions and fostering a healthy ecosystem of creative iteration. And honestly, watching these corporate giants duke it out with such delightfully pointed rhetoric? Well, that's just good entertainment, isn't it?
Tags: Gaming Law, IP Protection, Tencent, Sony, HorizonZeroDawn
Original article: Eurogamer